Parroting talking points
Dear Editor:
I read with interest reporter Patrick Raftis’ article about his questions to Perth–Wellington MPP Matthew Rae regarding the release of the Ontario Auditor General’s report about the removal of land from the Greenbelt last December.
After reading the article I was able to draw two conclusions.
My first conclusion was that Matthew Rae is capable of reading because he has clearly read the talking points memo from his bosses, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Clark and Premier Doug Ford. His answers to Raftis’ questions were essentially verbatim of what Clark and Ford have been saying for the past week and a half.
My second conclusion was that although able to read, Rae did not read the AG’s report. Or perhaps he just conveniently skipped over the parts that don’t fit with the Ford government’s narrative. Such as the parts where it is clearly stated that the land that was removed from the Greenbelt is not needed to fulfill the mandate set by the housing ministry of building 1.5 million new homes by 2032.
Citing the 2022 Ministry of Housing Affordability Task Force report, the AG states that, “The Task Force noted that a shortage of land was not the cause of the housing affordability problem and that there was sufficient land available for development outside of protected areas (citing the Greenbelt as an example).”
The chief planners of the three municipalities where the removed lands are located, (Durham Region, City of Hamilton and York Region), informed the AG that, “sufficiently serviced (or more easily serviceable) land is already available to meet the housing targets assigned to them by the housing ministry.” They went on to say, “that the land sites removed from the Greenbelt in December 2022 were largely not serviced, were not in their servicing plans, and that many of the land sites would be challenging to prioritize and service in the near future, with some taking potentially 10 or more years to accomplish.”
The Auditor General cites other subject matter experts that support this position.
“The Association of Municipalities of Ontario, which represents Ontario’s 444 municipalities, told us that while it recognizes that housing supply is a challenge in Ontario, a shortage of land is not the issue.”
A March 2023 report from the Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario is also cited in the AG’s report. The RPCO report states that, “large Ontario municipalities already have 85% of the 1.5 million housing units in their approval pipelines. If smaller municipalities are taken into account, the entire 1.5 million housing unit target will likely be exceeded by housing units already in the approval pipeline.”
They go on to say that, “RPCO continues to not support in principle the removal of lands from the Greenbelt as a necessary step to address Ontario’s housing needs.”
So why did Premier Ford and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Clark decide that land from the Greenbelt was required? As I stated last week in my letter to you, it is not a question of why? It’s a question of who. A very few, select developers, who now stand to profit handsomely from the rezoning of their land.
As is very clear from the Auditor General’s report, the land is not needed to help with a very real housing affordability problem. And no amount of parroting Ford and Clark by the backbench will change that. Although I must admit, the voters of Perth – Wellington at the least have their MPP on public record. Those of us here in Wellington – Halton Hills, not so much.
Michael Vasil,
Fergus
Where’s the hammer?
Dear Editor:
RE: MPP says government reacting to issues raised by Greenbelt report, Aug. 17.
Exactly – reactionary. The root is the immigration of 500,000 to Ontario, and that’s just legals. One cannot take a newborn home from a hospital without proper car seat, but we can bring immigrants with no place to house them?
The problem isn’t housing, but excess immigration. So building more housing for immigrants and removing food supplying land to the tune of 1,052 acres (just locally in Wellington) is the answer, as Perth-Wellington MPP Matt Rae describes?
“Urban boundaries” is better termed as destroying agricultural land. In addition, Minto as a municipality doesn’t get a say where that is; they had another location? So local governance isn’t given a say about their own land?
Wow, we Canadians sure do stand for a great deal of nonsense. When and where exactly does the hammer come down from the people who actually fund this country, province and local community?
Bonnie Hollinger,
Minto
Disturbing math
Dear Editor:
Members of all political parties, federal and provincial, have been suggesting the construction of millions of new housing units for immigrants, the homeless and tent people.
Construction of 5,500,000 units has been presented as the quantity required for completion by 2030 .
Let’s do a little arithmetic: there are approximately 2,000 working days between now and the year 2030. To build 5,500,000 housing units would translate into approximately 2,700 units per day, or five houses or apartment units every minute!
This is not a Biblical story about the fishes and loaves. This a “tale” about the lives of thousands of people. Maybe, as a courtesy, an honest politician could explain this fable to the homeless masses. Maybe someone could tell these people the truth, because it is impossible to build five homes every minute, every day for seven years.
Jim McClure,
Crieff
‘Kindness, patience’
Dear Editor:
I would like to share a recent experience that surely showed me there is still much kindness shown in these troubled times.
I was driving to Fort Erie on the Friday night before the long weekend and my vehicle broke down on the highway in Hamilton. A cloud of smoke came through my vent and the car stalled. I had my eight-month-old granddaughter in the back. I could only envision a car accident about to happen.
I was towed back to Fergus and suggested they leave the vehicle parked outside of Canadian Tire as my regular mechanic in Guelph was on holidays.
When the garage opened on Monday I explained what happened. After the vehicle was assessed they were quite surprised that I did not have any codes or lights on my dashboard warning me of any problems.
Oil had spewed all over the manifold. There was no exhaust coming from the muffler. It had overheated beyond a normal level for the catalytic converter.
My fear was that the transmission had given up the ghost. I was concerned about the great cost it would be or that maybe I was about to lose my vehicle, my independence.
I returned to Canadian Tire daily for five days to see what progress, if any, was being made. I was assured by Brett that he and his apprentices were intrigued by this challenging car. “It is like a puzzle and we will solve it. We will look after you,” he said.
By the third day they discovered my resonator pipe had broken and fiberglass had exploded into my muffler, blocking it completely!
Normally a dealership would say, “You need a new exhaust system and muffler.”
These apprentices knew I was a senior and my pockets are only so deep. They attempted to snake the fiberglass out, then vacuum it out and eventually blew it out which sprayed their walls. Brett said “the boys really enjoyed this puzzle, they have never seen anything like it!”
Now Brett presents me with the bill. I just cried. I did not know how to thank him and his co-workers. The bill was very fair.
Their kindness, patience and perseverance will never be forgotten. Because of them I am able to maintain my independence as a senior and I will be forever grateful. Because of them, grandma still has her wheels!
Thank you, gentlemen.
Peggy Williams,
Fergus
‘It needs to end’
Dear Editor:
Contrary to popular belief; the belief of many major media publications across North America as well as many of our collective government officials, Sound of Freedom has been deemed a conspiracy theory-fuelled depiction of human trafficking.
But two million children every year is no “conspiracy.” The children that lose their innocence to the likes of greedy, barbaric monsters every year is an atrocity of human sex trafficking.
When first released, a CBC pop-culture columnist claimed that Sound of Freedom’s audience was that of a “xenophobic, pro-Trump and pro-life” type community, but no matter our political beliefs, we should all be able to appreciate this film.
However, it’s clear that many Liberals and Democrats have labelled it an alt-right extreme, that misportrays the reality of human trafficking. Why? Who knows.
Sadly, Sound of Freedom has had to sit in the shadows as viewers choose the glitz and glam of Barbie and the cinematic darkness of Oppenheimer over the real darkness that lies all around us.
We as a society must come together when it comes to things like this. The human trafficking industry annually generates $150 billion, making it the fastest growing criminal industry on the globe.
That’s an idea one shouldn’t even have to attempt to fathom. It needs to end. Because after all, we can all agree with the film’s star Jim Caviezel: “God’s children are not for sale.”
Susannah Sinclair,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: Sound of Freedom has made close to $175 million at the box office, making it one of the most popular movies of the year thus far. Some people have tied the movie to conspiracy theories based largely on the spreading of QAnon conspiracies by Caviezel and the man he portrays in the film.
Heartfelt thanks
Dear Editor:
On Saturday, Aug. 19, while walking at Royal City Park in Guelph I fell.
Two ladies who were former teachers who were walking with children stopped to help me. They bandaged me up stating that they were used to that as they bandaged many students in the past.
One lady even offered to go and get my car for me. She said she would leave her wallet and her children with me as collateral. LOL.
I did not get the names of these two ladies but would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for the assistance they gave me. It is really nice to be living in an area where people still take the time to help others.
Joseph Perlock,
Cambridge
Helpful strangers
Dear Editor:
My partner and I recently had tickets to see a musical at the theatre in Drayton.
My partner tripped and fell head first while walking on the paved road to the theatre. He had bad cuts to his head, knee and arm.
I would like to thank the wonderful people of Drayton for coming to his rescue.
One lady who saw him fall, called 911 for an ambulance. Another lady who was a firefighter, came to the rescue to assess his injuries. Another lady asked if she could go to the box office and tell them what happened, so we could get our tickets exchanged for another Drayton show. A close by neighbour brought an ice pack, and offered to stay with me while the paramedics assessed the injuries.
Upon leaving in the ambulance for Palmerston hospital, this same lady offered to drive to the hospital and have me follow her so I would know where to go. She also stayed with me until my partner was released.
We would like to say a big thank you to the wonderful people of Drayton and also the staff at the Palmerston hospital for their wonderful kindness and help that was given to us. We will never forget it.
Dorothy McMillan,
Waterloo
Help without hesitation
Dear Editor:
I feel so fortunate to live in this county!
Over the last few days strangers, neighbours have come to our aid, in the moment of need, no hesitation, offering help.
First it was when I had just been in a car accident on Wellington Road 29 at Sideroad 30.
I was dazed, hurt, struggling to get out of my vehicle which I thought was on fire. (Later, I realized the smoke was the result of the three airbags exploding, not a fire.)
In that moment a clear, calm voice said “We’re here to help.”
They got me out of the car and to safety on the side of the road, directed traffic around the accident, got my purse and phone from the car and helped to contact my family.
One of these angels was herself a nurse and kept me under close attention as I struggled with pain and shock.
I want to thank all of you who stopped and helped out that day. I will never forget your generous kindness!
The police were soon on the scene, the ambulance arrived not long after. I was taken to Groves Hospital where I received timely professional care.
Thank you all!
Thank you to my dear neighbours who brought over delicious food to help us out.
Then today, just days from the trauma of the accident, our two family dogs went missing.
We were getting very worried after an hour and a half with no response to our calls and searches as we live near a busy road.
Again, strangers stepped up! Twice within minutes of each other, strangers came up the driveway with information about the whereabouts of the two rogue pups. And quickly we were able to locate them.
All was well, albeit muddy and out of breath! Thank you for taking the time to come to our aid!
Yes, I feel very fortunate to live here!
Take good care everyone and look out for each other.
Margaret Manwaring,
Centre Wellington
Fear-filled letters
Dear Editor:
You have published a number of rather fear-filled letters concerning crisis climate change in the past few months and have had no push back, till now.
The media fills its pages with endless stories of literally every weather event being the result of crisis climate change.
Canada has a lot of forest fires this year but most are suspected to be the result of arson and lightning. Is arson crisis climate change? But the media blames all the fires on crisis climate change and so we must pay more and more taxes to stop it.
Canadians are now on the hook for 32 billion dollars in tax subsidies to electric battery manufacturers. That should solve the problem, right?
It can’t.
Temperature rises before CO2 does and there is an 800-year lag in seeing the change.
What happened 800 years ago? The little ice age ended and the earth began to warm again on its continuing cycle of cooling and heating. What’s to fear? Nature does what nature does. And, cold weather kills more people than hot weather does. And, CO2 is literally necessary for life to continue on earth as it is plant food and we and the animals eat plants.
Meanwhile, the so-called experts at the UN have worked themselves up into a lather and are now saying the earth is “boiling.” Doesn’t look that way to me. In fact my tomatoes refuse to ripen because of lack of heat.
Jane Vandervliet,
Erin
Is MPP really listening?
Dear Editor:
If MPP Matthew Rae is “listening to local mayors and councils”, “grew up on a farm” and understands “the importance of our agricultural system in Wellington County and Perth County and across southwestern Ontario”, as the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and a voting member of the legislature, he should also understand the importance of agricultural systems throughout the province.
Ontario Farmland Trust reports we are losing 319 acres of agricultural land a day to urban development. This is not sustainable. We need to create more agricultural preserves, not destroy the only one we have.
If MPP Rae and the Ford government are listening to municipalities, why did they refuse to meet with them last fall to solve the housing crisis?
And they still refuse.
Municipalities know where the available infrastructure and services are to build housing quickly. They have stated over and over that Greenbelt lands are not needed to solve the problem.
In the Auditor General’s report, she notes:
“The Durham, Hamilton and York chief planners we spoke to said it would be challenging to provide the selected sites with the municipal infrastructure and services needed to support housing development in the near future. For example, Durham’s chief planner estimated it will take as many as 25 years to have full service for housing development on the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, which accounts for 58 per cent of the land acres removed from the Greenbelt in 2022.”
I don’t believe for a second that the decision was made in only three weeks, and by Minister Clark’s chief of staff alone. Silvio DeGasperis has a long history of trying to develop the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve which was protected with agricultural easements in perpetuity.
Shouldn’t the government be angry that an underling made these decisions, circumvented proper process and embarrassed the entire government putting their integrity and reputations at risk? Wouldn’t they want to undo the wrong? Government is usually slow. The Greenbelt grab was swift, strategic, calculated, and intentional in its execution.
All Conservative MPPs are sticking to the tiresome, false narrative of housing and is an insult to the public’s intelligence. The jig is up and MPP’s need to refuse to play this game any longer. Are they representing the public interest, or private interest?
Whatever political stripe you are, this should make you angry.
Bonnie Littley,
Wellington North
Co-founder of the Rouge Duffins Greenspace Coalition
Loathsome situation
Dear Editor:
I wanted to compliment Michael Vasil for his excellent letter in the Aug. 17 Wellington Advertiser about Bonnie Lysyk’s damming report on the changes that the Ford government made to the Greenbelt. And I wanted to make sure that the Ford government understands the disgust that I feel for this loathsome situation.
As Mr. Vasil and Ms. Lysyk both point out, there was never any need to remove land for the greenbelt because there is sufficient land across the province already identified to meet residential housing needs.
It is also highly unlikely that the lands proposed to be taken out of the Greenbelt will be used to build affordable housing. It is much more likely that this land will instead be used to build high-end housing.
This is about Premier Doug Ford’s political cronies in the development industry being handed an $8.2 billion windfall at the taxpayers’ and the Greenbelt’s expense.
But I reserve my greatest anger for Ford’s response to Lysyk’s report.
The Ford government acknowledges that it was wrong in undermining the Greenbelt, and that consequently, it is going to accept 14 of the 15 recommendations Lysyk makes in her report. However, the only recommendation that it is not going to accept is the most important one-to revisit the land swaps and reverse the bad decisions.
I find this response by the Ford government to be the height of hypocrisy and completely repugnant.
Dan Kennaley,
Rockwood